State Of U.S. Roads

[chuckbear]

Since starting out our big trip in May, we have traveled the roads and highways in Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Ontario Canada, and now Michigan. For the most part, we have traveled on interstate highways, rural, state and county roads and roads in small town. And for the most part have found the roads to be in deplorable conditions. Most days we wonder at what point the coach is going to begin to virtually fall apart from the pounding. The roads in Canada are marginally better and road construction is ongoing in many places. In the U.S. there is no indication that anything is happening to improve these roads any time soon. IMO, if construction started today, most of these roads would never get repaired in my lifetime, or my childrens. Often we hold our breath traveling under bridges that large pieces don't fall off on us. Don't get me wrong, other than the jostling while traveling, We're having a wonderful time. Our destination is WEST and we keep hoping things are going to improve. Perhaps those that have come before us can offer some advise as to what we are going to find. I suspect it is going to be more of the same. Is it possibly just the states and roads we have chosen and we are missing the better routes? I just find this a very sad state for our country. Sorry for the long rant. Chuck

[Kazoo Tom]

I took a nice long trip out west last year (2016). You are in for more of the same, and sometimes worse. We found many areas that warned of rough road ahead, believe it!! Ours was beaten up so badly that we even ended up with a cracked windshield. Some of the roughest areas were the transition from highway to bridge. In many areas it was like driving over a curb. We too had a great time, but the roads mostly interstates can be a challenge.

[rk911]

we returned from a 3-month trip out west and then out to ohio before returning home to illinois in late may. illinois roads are generally bad. coming home from dayton via I-70/I-465/I-74 we found 70 and 465 around indy to be ok, not good but ok. I-74 between indy and the illinois line was pretty good but i could tell when we crossed into illinois cuz the road felt like we were running on railroad ties.

heading to phoenix last march we found I-44/I-40/I-17 to be pretty good except in and around cities and crossing bridges. st. louis was horrible and like the OP i thought the MH was gonna shake itself apart. parts of 40 thru amarillo weren't rough as much as it felt like a roller coaster. albuquerque was probably the "best" city in terms of a rough road but 40 approaching flagstaff and I-17 sb between flagstaff and sedona was excruciatingly bad. we ted to favor the bypass routes around big cities where they are available unless impractical but they too can be terrible.

given the sad state if american highways i'm continually in amazed that our RVs hold together as well as they do.

[Unicorn Driver]

Not trying in anyway to start a flame war but I find Us road atrocious compared to European roads.

[Busskipper]

from a Forbes article;


"There’s a real irony in raiding general revenues to keep the trust fund solvent -- the gas tax's problems started when Congress raided the trust fund to keep the government solvent. In 1990 Congress approved an increase in the gas tax but allotted only half of the new revenue to building projects. The other half was dedicated to deficit reduction – which then, as now, was all the rage. In 1993 Congress approved another gas tax hike and again devoted some of the revenue to deficit reduction.

In 1997 Congress redirected all gas tax revenues to the Highway Trust Fund, and the levy returned to its former role as a user fee. But the damage was done.

For decades, the gas tax had been remarkably well tolerated, thanks to its relative invisibility at the pump. But the tax was also earmarked for something that taxpayers actually wanted.

The relative popularity of the gas tax wasn’t lost on politicians – or historians, for that matter. “Because of its purpose and rationale,” wrote John Chynoweth Burnham in 1961, “this tax was not subject to the usual social resistances to taxation.”

What was true in 1961, however, is no longer true today."

The raiding of the Gas Tax fund is not left to the Feds but was also used by the States - so the damage is done - the only way is for a massive spending and Implementation bill to be passed by Congress - I would guess part of that Bill will be an Increase in the Gas Tax - With the money dedicated to one thing Highways and Bridges.

If not then we will all need to learn to drive very slowly if at all.

JMHO,

[miniceptor86]

If there is a pool of money somewhere, be it gas tax, social security, government retirement fund, atv, snowmobile or boat registration a politician will covet it and find a way to "misappropriate" it. That way they sneak by without raising taxes.

[JC2]

Originally Posted by Busskipper

from a Forbes article;


"There’s a real irony in raiding general revenues to keep the trust fund solvent -- the gas tax's problems started when Congress raided the trust fund to keep the government solvent. In 1990 Congress approved an increase in the gas tax but allotted only half of the new revenue to building projects. The other half was dedicated to deficit reduction – which then, as now, was all the rage. In 1993 Congress approved another gas tax hike and again devoted some of the revenue to deficit reduction.

In 1997 Congress redirected all gas tax revenues to the Highway Trust Fund, and the levy returned to its former role as a user fee. But the damage was done.

For decades, the gas tax had been remarkably well tolerated, thanks to its relative invisibility at the pump. But the tax was also earmarked for something that taxpayers actually wanted.

The relative popularity of the gas tax wasn’t lost on politicians – or historians, for that matter. “Because of its purpose and rationale,” wrote John Chynoweth Burnham in 1961, “this tax was not subject to the usual social resistances to taxation.”

What was true in 1961, however, is no longer true today."

The raiding of the Gas Tax fund is not left to the Feds but was also used by the States - so the damage is done - the only way is for a massive spending and Implementation bill to be passed by Congress - I would guess part of that Bill will be an Increase in the Gas Tax - With the money dedicated to one thing Highways and Bridges.

If not then we will all need to learn to drive very slowly if at all.

JMHO,

States are good at asking for monies to fix the roads and better at moving it to other parts of the budget for all of the little "pet" projects. In my opinion, most "politicians" are nothing more than car salesmen in disguise.

[CampDaven]

We discovered the old highways before the ones titled "I" got crappy.
Not reaching for a "bridge too far" and slowing down to see Americana is grand!

[TonyMac]

In Utah, sound walls were popping up all over the place, shielding new neighborhoods from highway noise. My 6' agrcultural chain link fence was $10 per foot in 1990, I cannot imagine how much a 10' high cement wall might be. But you can be assured the taxpayer paid for it. We have reader boards every 10 miles or so, at several million each. For what?

[rk911]

Originally Posted by JC2

States are good at asking for monies to fix the roads and better at moving it to other parts of the budget for all of the little "pet" projects. In my opinion, most "politicians" are nothing more than car salesmen in disguise.

that's an insult to car salesmen everywhere!

[JC2]

Originally Posted by rk911

that's an insult to car salesmen everywhere!

Your right; my apologies. �� Not

[Hgrace56]

Gas taxes are not the problem here.
When the highway system was built post WWII too personal income tax rate on earnings over 2 million dollars was 90%. JFK dropped it yo 70% and in the 80s Ronald thought 39% would be enough and deductions for things like credit card interest should be eliminated.
By the way corporations like Exxon and GE actually paid taxes as well.
Ohh to have those 70s roads once again.

[dexters]

Originally Posted by chuckbear

Since starting out our big trip in May, we have traveled the roads and highways in Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Ontario Canada, and now Michigan. For the most part, we have traveled on interstate highways, rural, state and county roads and roads in small town. And for the most part have found the roads to be in deplorable conditions.

Well the USA is a big country and weather is a major issue with road maintenance. The freeze thaw process and salt used on the roads is a major factor. In the south heat can buckle roads.

I think the road are in great condition from what they were in the past. Modern technology has allowed for continuous pore of cement, tar and composite roadways. In the past there were many seams in the roads.

Those that think that roads were better in the 70s/80s are forgetting that cities were in decay during that time and diverted funds for road mtc. to other areas. The roads were terrible.

I've ridden roads that I would say are as smooth as silk and I can understand how drivers might fall asleep on them.

Today's roadways are a modern marvel.

Add to all of this is that the population has grown and the miles driven have increased dramatically. Least we forget highway truck miles with their heavy loads have also increased.

Enjoy your travels.

[Bob_C]

Interstates in northern Calif, all of Oregon and Washington, are decent....